Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 12 June 2026

Paula Bailey Counselling is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information in a secure, transparent and lawful manner. This Privacy Policy explains how personal information is collected, used, stored and protected when you visit this website, make an enquiry, or engage in counselling services.

1. Who We Are

Paula Bailey Counselling is the Data Controller responsible for your personal information.

Contact Details

Paula Bailey Counselling

Email: paulabaileycounselling@yahoo.com

Telephone: 07731 326145

ICO Registration Number: ZB677162

2. Information We Collect

Information You Provide

When you contact Paula Bailey Counselling through the website contact form, email, telephone or other communication methods, we may collect:

• Your name
• Email address
• Telephone number
• Information contained within your enquiry
• Any other information you choose to provide

Counselling Information

If you engage in counselling services, information relevant to providing safe and effective counselling may be collected. This may include special category personal data such as:

• Physical or mental health information
• Emotional wellbeing
• Family and relationship information
• Information relating to gender identity where relevant to counselling
• Other sensitive information disclosed during sessions

Technical Information

When you visit the website, certain information may be collected automatically, including:

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Device information
• Pages visited
• Website usage information

Cookies

This website may use cookies and similar technologies provided by GoDaddy and other website services to improve website functionality and understand how visitors use the site.

You can control cookies through your browser settings.

3. How Your Information Is Used

Your personal information may be used to:

• Respond to enquiries
• Arrange and manage appointments
• Provide counselling services
• Maintain counselling records
• Process payments
• Improve website performance and security
• Comply with legal and regulatory obligations
• Protect the safety and wellbeing of clients and others where necessary

Paula Bailey Counselling does not send marketing emails or newsletters.

4. Lawful Basis for Processing

Under UK GDPR, personal information is processed on the following lawful bases:

Contract

Where processing is necessary to provide counselling services requested by you.

Legitimate Interests

For managing enquiries, appointments, administration and the operation of the practice.

Legal Obligation

Where processing is necessary to comply with legal requirements.

Special Category Data

Sensitive personal information is processed where necessary for the provision of counselling services and the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims, or with your explicit consent where appropriate.

5. Counselling Sessions

Counselling sessions may be conducted:

• In person
• By telephone
• Via Google Meet
• Via WhatsApp Video

Where online services are used, those providers may process limited personal information required to facilitate communications. Clients are encouraged to use private and secure internet connections when attending online sessions.

6. Client Records

Brief counselling notes may be maintained to support the safe and effective delivery of counselling services.

Paper records are stored securely in a locked filing cabinet and access is restricted to Paula Bailey Counselling.

Records are retained only for as long as necessary to meet legal, insurance and professional requirements and are securely destroyed when no longer required.

7. Payments

Payments may be made by:

• Bank transfer
• Cash

Where payments are made by bank transfer, financial institutions may process personal information as part of the payment process.

8. Confidentiality

Information shared during counselling is treated as confidential.

However, confidentiality may be broken in exceptional circumstances, including:

• Where there is a serious risk of harm to yourself or another person
• Where there are safeguarding concerns involving a child or vulnerable adult
• Where disclosure is required by law or court order
• Where disclosure is necessary to fulfil a legal obligation

Where possible, concerns will be discussed with you before information is shared.

9. Sharing Your Information

Your information will never be sold or rented to third parties.

Information may be shared only where necessary with:

• Technology providers used to deliver services
• Banking providers involved in payment processing
• Legal or regulatory authorities where required by law
• Emergency services or safeguarding agencies where necessary to protect safety

Any third parties used are expected to handle personal information securely and in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

10. International Data Transfers

Some service providers, including Google Meet and WhatsApp, may process information outside the United Kingdom.

Where this occurs, appropriate safeguards are relied upon to protect personal information in accordance with UK GDPR requirements.

11. Your Rights

Under UK GDPR you have the right to:

• Access your personal information
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion of personal information in certain circumstances
• Restrict processing in certain circumstances
• Object to certain types of processing
• Request transfer of your data where applicable
• Withdraw consent where consent is relied upon

Requests can be made by contacting:

paulabaileycounselling@yahoo.com

12. Data Security

Appropriate technical and organisational measures are in place to protect personal information from unauthorised access, loss, misuse or disclosure.

While every effort is made to protect information, no internet-based communication can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

13. Third-Party Websites

This website may contain links to third-party websites. Paula Bailey Counselling is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those websites.

14. Complaints

If you have concerns about how your personal information is handled, please contact Paula Bailey Counselling in the first instance.

You also have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Telephone: 0303 123 1113

Website: www.ico.org.uk

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in legal requirements or business practices.

Any updates will be published on this page and the effective date will be revised accordingly.

Last updated 12th June 2026